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JUSTIN
BONSIGNORE WINS THE NHMS F.W. WEBB "100"
Bonsignore Believes Nothing Will Compare To This!
by
Denise DuPont |
 Going
into Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT)
race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Doug Coby from
Milford, CT. had a twenty point lead of over Justin
Bonsignore of Holtsville, NY. Third in the chase was
Timmy Solomito of Islip, NY., who was thirty-six
points out of the chase.
The weekend for the NWMT teams began with rain on
Friday which shortened their first practice session
and forced the cancellation of their qualifying
session. The starting order was determined by NASCAR
rule book. Pitkat pitted for new rubber before the
rain and returned to score the fastest lap in the
shortened practice. Based on the “Adverse Weather
Conditions” NASCAR ruling, Pitkat was given position
one for race start. Second in practice times was
Bobby Santos of Franklin, MA. who started the
feature race on the outside pole.
Coming to New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) is
“Daytona” to the modifieds. The series puts on a
spectacular show for the fans that brings them to
their feet. This year the modifieds continue to
dazzle everyone with the unique finesse which
drivers can draft and swap positions unlike any
other division on the track. This year there were
twelve lead changes among four drivers. Early in the
race some of the top contenders were eliminated due
to accidents. Pole sitter Woody Pitkat of
Sturbridge, MA led 21 laps only to have his day end
27 laps into the race. He made contact with the
outside wall causing front end suspension damage.
Pitkat’s brother-in-law Bobby Santos of Franklin,
MA., was second fastest in practice and started the
race on the outside. He was the first one out of the
race out sitting on the sidelines after he went up a
little too high in turn two and the right front tire
was ripped off the #44. Rowan Pennink of Huntingdon
Valley, PA. had his turn at the top position for 5
laps and after 98 laps pulled into the garage area
with motor issues. Pennink was running in second
contending for the lead when his car suddenly slowed
coming out of turn two. Continuing to round the
oval, the car then emitted a black puff of smoke
exiting turn three.
In 2011 a younger Bonsignore led one lap at NHMS and
since then he has had nothing but bad luck at the
track. Things were so cursed that when it was time
to head to the
 “Magic
Mile” he was not very enthusiastic about making the
trip as would be expected. This weekend though the
Pioneer Communications Inc. sponsored #51 Chevrolet
managed to perform magic of their own to reverse the
bad luck spell that the team had at NHMS. Finally
finding the right combination the team joyously
pulled into victory lane. “It has been notoriously a
struggle here since we led the one lap in 2011
--with blown engines and wrecked race cars.
Sometimes you did not look forward to coming here”
confessed Bonsignore. “But we worked on some stuff
in the spring, struggled a bit and then came back
with that package. We just tuned it a little bit and
right away I knew I had a good car. Yes, right away
I knew I was going to be aggressive and get to the
front. Right now we are in a position that we have
to win and have max points and there are not that
many races left for me to do it. I did what I could
to get to the front and I tried to lead as many laps
as I could. I knew from there if I could stay in the
lead I would be the control car on the outside
because I was getting really good starts. When
anybody would pass me I would pass them right back.
It probably would have been an interesting finish if
the three did not blow up. The guys gave me a great
car today. This is the one that we wrecked done in
Bristol. They rebuilt it and within the last week
and a half we got it back. There were a lot of late
hours in the shop but that is what it is all about
in this series. There is no better way to reward
your guys than to get them in victory lane at
Loudon. This was my first win at Loudon and I did
not even know where to turn in. I was to thank all
our sponsors. This is like a dream come true. I
wanted to do this for a long time here.”
 By
lap 25, Doug Coby had made his way back into the top
three. Every time he ended up on the front row for
restarts, he was forced to the bottom position when
the other driver choose the top groove. The track’s
top lane has proven to be the best place to run. “I
knew having Doug pinned on the bottom was going to
be to my advantage. The outside here is just so
dominate on the restarts,” recounted Bonsignore. “On
that last caution, we worked it out with Ronnie
--when to start the push coming to the restart. And
we just executed it perfectly. When we went green he
(Ron Silk) gave me a really good shove down the
front stretch and I was cleared of Doug going into
one. I then was by both (Doug and Ron) by turn three
going into turn four. Fortunately we were able to
pull away from him (Doug) off of each corner for the
last two laps because he would suck right up to the
back of us.”
“It is just an unbelievable feeling.” Stated
Bonsignore about the win. On the last restart there
was speedy dry on the track, it was a
green-white-checker run and Coby and Bonsignore were
right there for when the green flag flew. “I had a
lot going through my head and I am so glad that it
worked out. I think that the yellow coming out was a
blessing the way that the race played out. I knew
that if they got to my bumper it was going to be a
crazy finish. And that things might happen but
fortunately we got a really good restart and I was
able to put some distance on them. And they did suck
up to us on the draft. But our car was just so good
at the end, I knew that they were going to have to
wreck us to beat us but nobody was like that today.”
In the end Bonsignore reflected on the race and what
the victory meant to him: “I am at a loss for words
for what this means and what it feels like. It is an
honor to race at such a great facility at New
Hampshire. And to do it with the cup guys is
special. The fans here love watching modified
racing. It is definitely the best show of the
weekend. We prove that week in and week out. Just to
win on this stage it just has not sunk in. I have
won some pretty big races on the tour but nothing
will compare to this. There are no complaints on out
end. We are just very happy.”
 Ron
Silk started the race sixth and ran with the lead
pack the entire day. On the last restart he was in
fourth position behind Bonsignore. He had the
opportunity to push Bonsignore across the start
line, draft and then potentially sling shot under
Bonsignore for the win. The first two moves played
out but he never had the opportunity to get under
Bonsignore because of the leader’s forward momentum.
“Restarting fourth, I really thought that it was the
best spot,” admitted Silk. “I thought I was going to
win, especially coming over and getting the white
flag and being in second. That is the spot that you
want to be in. I just thought I was going to win. I
got loose in turn one and two and Justin was able to
get enough a gap on me. I sucked back up to him but
it was a little too little too late. Those guys did
a great job and congratulations to them. I just had
a missed opportunity I think a little bit. Second is
a good run. We needed a good run, but I am a little
disappointed.”
The Danny Watt’s Horton Avenue Materials sponsored
#82 team had a fast car, stayed clean and was there
if the opportunity occurred Silk was ready to
capture it.But the moment never occurred. But in the
end, a second place finish here at Loudon is nothing
to be ashamed of. “We had a great car. I love coming
here and for whatever reason I run really well here.
And today was just another one of those days. We had
a great car. We led a couple of laps and we just
came up a little short.” So Silk did not take home a
piece of the granite but they had fun and were there
at the end.
Point leader Doug Coby did not have the day go the
way that he planned. He never had a chance to grab a
pack to race with him on the inside and the outside
groove was Bonsignore’s territory. He managed to get
up to second but the top spot eluded him all day. “I
had the unlucky bottom spot on the track for the
race start all day it seemed. That was not where I
wanted to be. It seemed like every time I got to
second and I had a shot to get the lead the caution
came right out. So I ended up on the bottom for a
lot of restarts and it just hurt us.” Coby stated
summarizing his race day. “Up here everybody just
trains around the outside. On the last restart I was
pretty if I got side by side with the #5,1 passed
Ron, I thought I could rough him up a little bit and
try and squeeze in but I did not get a great restart
and as soon as Ron got to second I was hoping he
would get to second and win the race for the points
sake, But I saw him get loose in front of me going
into turn one and I knew at that point it was either
tuck in here or try to win in second because Justin
had too big of a lead.”
“On lap 6, I pulled out of line and nobody wanted to
race. I pulled out of line and tried to make some
moves and it seemed like nobody else wanted to. I
went from third or fourth to about tenth.” Coby
stated about his move to create a new train to
compete with the lead pack running the bottom. “You
can make the bottom work passing one car, but when
they get in a line on the outside they just carry
that much more momentum to go forward and you are
just stuck on the bottom. We played catch from there
and showed we had a great car in traffic. Anytime
there was a half a car length between the two cars
in front of me, I was able to pull out and pass them
but when they stick to their bumpers you just can’t
move them or otherwise you will wreck them. And
until there is one to go there is no reason to do
stuff like that. Things just did not go our way
today. And with the way that race went today, I am
just happy to finish third.”
 got
his wheels on the speedy dry and suddenly was
squirrelly. “The #89 (Matt Swanson) was under me and
he wiggled in the speedy dry and then I wiggled but
we were able to get out of there in one piece,”
stated Coby. “I think at that point we were all
thankful we did not wreck. He did a great job for a
young kid, he still has a lot to learn but he is
learning a lot. It is never going to happen all at
once. He has a great crew chief in Kenny Barry and a
really great car with Spafco and Kenny knows what he
is building there to have a rookie come up and
finish in the top five.”
Matt Swanson began his day from way back in the
field starting eighteenth. He kept his nose clean
and at the last yellow was running sixth. Running
with the experienced drivers he held his own and
even made a late race charge.
“If you had asked me before the half-way break where
we would have been at the end of this race and
before the adjustments my crew chief made, I
probably would have said fifteenth.” Swanson stated.
“Kenny and I talked before the half-way break. We
discussed what we should do. And we made the right
call and after the car was very good after the
hall-way break and we picked them off one by one. I
ended up fourth and it is awesome especially at
Loudon.”
“I knew I had to get a good restart because Justin
took the top and I had Ronnie right in front of me.
I got right on Ronnie’s bumper and waited for him to
get a little bit of gap on me and that was when I
decided to go.” Swanson said about his late race
charge to the front. We got all the way up to Coby
and down in three I washed it up a little bit. And
that was just a racing deal. That is one thing that
I have to put in my brain as a mental notebook the
next time that we come here. If I am in the same
situation. Al and all awesome night and weekend. ”So
all in all he had a great day and definitely was the
“Rookie of the Race.”
In each of the previous two races for the tour, Doug
Coby, Justin Bonsignore and Timmy Solomito claimed
all three of the podium spots at the checkered flag.
Going into the F.W. Webb 100 race at NHMS, Coby and
Solomito had four wins apiece for this race season
and — with Bonsignore lagging behind with only two.
Coby also led Bonsignore by 20 points and Solomito
by 37. After this weekend’s F.W. Webb 100 Coby’s
point lead shrunk a little to thirteen points over
Bonsignore, while the margin between Coby and
Solomito grew to 42 points.
The next race will be the NAPA Fall Final 150 at
Stafford Motor Speedway October 2nd. Fall is a great
time for racing so see you at the track.
Noted from
New Hampshire Motor Speedway:
What went through your mind
when you saw Pennink disappear from your mirror?
Justin Bonsignore
“Rowan really had a great car today. It is too bad
and it is unfortunate that they blew up. You hate to
see that happen to people. They were not content to
ride second and I was very adamant about wanting to
lead the draft. Our car was very good out front. And
I just wanted to lead as many laps as I could. I
need to get max points every week. He was really
content to ride there and the way that it was
playing out, it would have been one of those last
lap sling-shot moves.”
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Source:
Denise DuPont / TheChromeHorn.com
Posted:
September 25, 2016 |
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